The Sparks selected Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson at No. 4 and Stanford centre Cameron Brink at No. 2 on Monday night at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Cameron Brink led the nation in blocked shots (3.74 per game) and averaged 17.4 points and 11.9 rebounds, earning him the Pac-12 Player of the Year award. Lisa Leslie and the 6-foot-4 senior received the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player award. NCAA champion Brink is a Stanford freshman.
“I’m so proud of all of us who are here today, even though this is a nerve-racking environment,” said Brink, who shared a Virginia Tech room with her godmother, Sonya Curry, and mother, Michelle. “I’ll keep relying on all the people in my life because it requires a village,” Brink said. “Coming here has rekindled my passion.”
Jackson, an SEC all-conference first-teamer, averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 33 points in her final game with the Volunteers. Starting 106 of 127 games, two at Tennessee and three at Mississippi State, the 6-foot-2 postman scored 2,261 points (17.8 per game) and 773 rebounds.
Jackson stated, “I want to get better, and I’m versatile.” God and family come first. I want to succeed, make friends, and express myself. Amazingly, Candace Parker played for Tennessee and LA for years.
After Iowa won the title in March, Caitlin Clark became the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader and Indiana Fever’s top player. National champion Aliyah Boston of South Carolina was Indiana’s top pick last year.
The Chicago Sky selected 6-foot-7 South Carolina centre Kamilla Cardoso, a senior who shot 63.8 percent and averaged 16.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in the NCAA tournament, with the third pick.
In the third round, Sparks drafted 6-foot guard-forward McKenzie Forbes, who finished 28th overall, #4. Forbes attended USC following one season at California and two at Harvard, where she won the Trojans’ first Elite Eight since 1994.
“We came in prepared and excited about our direction after the draft,” said Sparks GM Raegan Pebley. The offence begins with Cameron Brink and Rickea attacking and guarding the rim. After watching McKenzie at Harvard, I loved her locally. To acquire her, we needed supernatural assistance.
Pebley thinks the Sparks can break their record-tying three-year postseason drought.
We approached all three before the selection, and they all wanted to win and go to LA. We helped them succeed.
First-time WNBA executive Pebley signed former UCLA standouts Monique Billings at forward and Kia Nurse and Aari McDonald at guard to replace Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown, and Zia Cook after coaching college basketball.
Losing first-round choice Nneka Ogwumike to the Seattle Storm in free agency left the Sparks young and skilled. Coach Curt Miller expects a challenging camp.
Miller adds, “I love to teach, and I can’t wait to get these players on the floor.” Cameron’s shot-blocking will improve our league-low rebounding and rim-guarding. Full post here.
The downtown Los Angeles Level Hotel watching party featured Magic Johnson and Cheryl Miller.
“I’m thrilled about the Sparks,” said Cheryl Miller. Rickea opposes Cameron. Development counts. None scratched their heads. Excellent choices!
Sparks guard Burrell wanted to be drafted.
“I’m really excited to play with a fellow Lady Vol.” defence and expansion. You can play freely in youth. Workers entertain.
“To be honest, lottery picks mean nothing,” McDonald said. Do as you please. I moved to L.A., which thrilled my family. Please ask lots of questions—I’m delighted to talk to the girls. I want to help because my first year was hard.
In the first and third rounds, Mercury picked UCLA guard Charisma Osborne 25th overall. Osborne averaged 3.1 assists, 5.6 rebounds, and 14.9 points. Liberty selected USC forward Kaitlyn Davis as their sole local 35th-round pick. Davis averaged 10.5 points, 2.4 assists, and 7.1 rebouShe took 48.5% of her floor shots. her.
The Dallas Wings drafted Ohio State guard Jacy Sheldon in the fifth round. The Chicago Sky chose Angel Reese of Louisiana State, the Washington Mystics chose Aaliyah Edwards of Connecticut, and the Minnesota Lynx chose Alissa Pili of Utah.
Three internationals reached the first round last year. The Dallas Wings, Connecticut Sun, and Atlanta Dream selected French guard Carla Leite, Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan, and Atlanta Dream forward-center Nyadiew Puoch No. 9. The NY Liberty picked Mississippi guard Marquesa Davis 11th overall.
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